The Bralley Trolley

The big news in our house is that we've sold our Camry and purchased a Toyota Highlander! We've been talking about moving from the Cam to an SUV for about 9 months but we wanted to see how things went having two kids in the car before we spent the money on something different that will most certainly increase our gasoline bill.

Seven weeks of driving the two kiddos around in my car led me to the conviction that we would be much more comfortable with more room. Then buying a double stroller that barely fit in the trunk (I had to removed the front lap bar which was a big hassle) sealed the deal. We spent a couple weeks looking online and talking about what our preferences were.

We wanted something with a 6 cylinder engine. Something I would get about 20 miles per gallon driving. Something with 50K miles or less. I would prefer something with third row seating that could be put down easily but could be used on those occasions we have family and friends riding with us. I wanted leather interior because I've found it to be super convenient with Betsy. Riding rear-facing she gets mud on the back of the seat and sometimes spears various snack foods and leather wipes clean easily!

We found two listings at a dealership in Austin, one for a Lexus RX 350 and one for the Highlander both in our price range. We test drove the Lexus first and it was fabulous. We drove the Highlander second and I felt like it drove the exact same. And I was pleased to find the Limited Highlander model had almost all the bells and whistles the Lexus did! A 10K dollar difference in price sold me on the Highlander as it meant we wouldn't have to finance. Ben was leaning toward the Lexus, but I was leaning toward the Highlander and as I'm going to be the primary driver we went with the Highlander.

Inside entertainment

We are so happy to have the playroom to give Betsy a place where she can go crazy without worrying about breaking something. She's happy t0 come home lately after school, fix herself a snack, and picks a coloring book to color while she watches Barney or Elmo. She becomes more and more little girl and less baby every day!

Here are a few pictures from one afternoon last week.

"Whoa Mama"

That's what Betsy said upon spying the newest addition to our household, which happens to be a Graco Duo Glider stroller. It's a big-mama double stroller that gave me the confidence to take both girls to Ben's soccer game last night. Other than daycare I've been too intimidated to take both girls places. Betsy had a blast cheering for "Coach Daddy". "Go Bem!" "Go soccer-Daddy!" though she was very confused by all the boys wearing 'Daddy clothes' (red, black and white Adidas attire from head to toe).

The only drawback to the new stroller is that I have to remove the front lap attachment in order to fit this bad-boy in the trunk of the Camry. Our plan was to wait six months to see how the Camry would work having two kids but if last night was any indicator it won't last much longer.

So I sit with my laptop in front of me, and my iPhone beside me with the Kelly Blue Book ap pulled up looking into SUVs, comparing gas mileage, passenger seating, and safety ratings.

I need something with third row seating if you want to give a review on your SUV!

Where does the time go?

You would think being home on maternity leave would give me more time to blog but it doesn't work out that way! Especially weeks like this one having a sick kiddo and a newborn to take care of. Betsy has an ear infection and she's had a fever since Friday night. I called first thing today and she had an appointment at 2 pm. Sure enough, she has one ear infection (ironically in the ear that still has a tube). She's been very attached to me the last few days and Ben and I gladly indulge her need for extra hugs, kisses and time rocking in the chair with us.

Anyways the doctor gave Betsy a shot of antibiotics and an oral prescription and I'm glad she was pretty aggressive with the treatment because it's just so apparent how much pain Betsy is in. I'm sure in another 24 or 48 hours she'll be much better.

In other news Ella is fantastic. She's such a sweetie pie and I really enjoy our time together. She's waking up about once a night to eat, and she's already outgrown her newborn clothes and diapers!

Betsy still adores her 'ister and loves to hold her, kiss her and help feed her. Today at the doctor's office every time Betsy heard a crying baby she would say "Ister is crying? Baby 'Allah crying! Betsy go see Allah?' and she would try to leave the patient room and I would have to stop and remind her "Sister is at Pawpaw's house, she's not crying." I hope this affection lasts for a long time and Betsy and Ella can be best friends!

That's all for today, I have three more weeks of maternity leave so I'll try to check in more often!

WWJBD?

A funny little story...

When I was in the hospital one week before Ella's arrival Betsy spent the night at my in-laws and it happened to be the night of some award show... and Justin Beiber performed. Betsy and William enthusiastically watched and danced to Justin Beiber. When Justin took the stage Betsy exclaimed "OOOOOOOOHHHH JUSTIN BEIBER!" We don't know where her love for Justin Beiber came from, because I don't really listen to the radio with Betsy in the car. I listen to audio books and CDs.

So anyways one week later I went back in the hospital and Betsy stayed with my in-laws and my brother-in-law JD came in town to meet Ella! The day we came home from the hospital I took Betsy to her room and she shut the door and I was greeted by a life sized poster of Justin Beiber which was of course put up by Betsy's Uncle JD.

Now when we go to school in the mornings Betsy sits on her bed, puts on her socks and shoes and says "Bye Beiber!". When Betsy's throwing a tantrum I shut the door and say "BETSY! What would Justin Beiber think of you acting this way?" It works and she calms down.

So the new toddler behavioural method is called "What Would Justin Beiber Do?"

My baby is 2 going on 14.

Back on the bandwagon

I'm very happy to say I'm on day two of following Weight Watchers again. I had great success following WW before I got married and I hope to have success again! I have different challenges this time, before I only worried about my own food intake and now Ben and I have to compromise on the recipes we make and places we go out to ear. Ben is also trying to eat healthier so it shouldn't be too hard to keep our home cooked meals in the low-point range.

Weight watchers has changed since I last followed it, and I like that I have to be so aware of what I'm eating. I don't know the points values of everything anymore so I have to look things up before eating.

My first goal is to lose 10 pounds. I'll let yall know when that happens!

Ella Coy's 1 month pictures

I know I still need to blog about my family's visit, our Christmas celebrations and New Years but today I took pictures of our sweet pork chop and decided to post them first!

Ella is 1 month old TODAY! Balancing the parenting of a (precocious) toddler and a newborn has been an adjustment but overall we're handling it well. Ella is SUCH a good baby. She eats well (I think she's hitting a growth spurt because during the day she's eating every two hours). She sleeps well. She run errands with me and sleeps almost the whole time that we're out. She likes the swing and the bouncer. She loves to snuggle with Ben and I.

There have been no signs of jealousy from the big sister either. Betsy has learned how to interact gently with Ella and she just loves the baby. She talks in a high pitched voice to Ella and asks to give "baby kisses" all the time. She helps us burp Ella. Betsy says "abupuh" like she's trying to say "I burp her." She asks to 'takie baby' meaning she wants to hold her. We let her hold Ella in her lap and she just smiles and kisses her constantly.

Ella moved into size 1 diapers already and she's outgrown her newborn clothing. Uncle JD nicknamed her 'pork chop' because she was so healthy and squishy looking when she was born. He said when Hudson was in the NICU and he saw babies Ella's size he would want to ask "Hey pork chop, what are you in here for?" and the nickname stuck.

Ella lost her umbilical cord while my family was visiting and she's had a few tub baths already (she seems to enjoy them). Ella is co sleeping with me and Ben has been staying in the guest room. I do all the night duty since Ben has been back at work and this situation works well for us. I think we'll try to move her to her crib in a week or two. Some nights she has long sleep stretches from 11-5 or 6. Most nights she wakes up once around 2 am. From what I remember with Betsy these midnight bottles are short lived, so I try to enjoy the silence and the cuddly baby at night.

Here are sweet Ella's one month pictures.